Howard County, Texas

Howard County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. At the 2020 census, its population was 34,860.^[1] Its county seat is Big Spring.^[2] The county was created in 1876 and organized in 1882.^[3] It is named for Volney E. Howard, a U.S. Congressman from Texas.^[4]

Howard County
County
Howard County Court House in downtown Big Spring
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°19′N 101°26′W
Country	United States
State	Texas
Founded	1882
Named after	Volney E. Howard
Seat	Big Spring
Largest city	Big Spring
Area
• Total	904 sq mi (2,340 km2)
• Land	901 sq mi (2,330 km2)
• Water	3 sq mi (8 km2)  0.4%
Population  (2020)
• Total	34,860
• Estimate  (2024)	30,833
• Density	33.9/sq mi (13.10/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	19th
Website	www.co.howard.tx.us

Howard County Library in Big Spring

Howard County is included in the Big Spring, Texas micropolitan statistical area.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 904.205 square miles (2,341.88 km²), of which 900.791 square miles (2,333.04 km²) are land and 3.414 square miles (8.84 km²) (0.4%) are covered by water.^[5]

Howard County is located at the boundary between the Llano Estacado to the north and the Edwards Plateau to the south. Beals Creek, a tributary of the Colorado River, flows through the center of Big Spring and divides these two major physiographic regions.

Major highways

• Interstate 20
• Interstate 20 Business
• U.S. Highway 87
• State Highway 176
• State Highway 350
• Farm to Market Road 669
• Farm to Market Road 700

Adjacent counties

• Borden County (north)
• Mitchell County (east)
• Sterling County (southeast)
• Glasscock County (south)
• Martin County (west)
• Dawson County (northwest)
• Scurry County (northeast)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	50		—
1890	1,210		2,320.0%
1900	2,528		108.9%
1910	8,881		251.3%
1920	6,962		−21.6%
1930	22,888		228.8%
1940	20,990		−8.3%
1950	26,722		27.3%
1960	40,139		50.2%
1970	37,796		−5.8%
1980	33,142		−12.3%
1990	32,343		−2.4%
2000	33,627		4.0%
2010	35,012		4.1%
2020	34,860		−0.4%
2024 (est.)	30,833	[6]	−11.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1850–2010[8] 2010–2020[1]

2020 census

Howard County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000[9]	Pop 2010[10]	Pop 2020[11]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	19,096	18,801	15,672	56.79%	53.70%	44.96%
Black or African American alone (NH)	1,292	2,079	1,520	3.84%	5.94%	4.36%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	122	220	211	0.36%	0.63%	0.61%
Asian alone (NH)	196	256	386	0.58%	0.73%	1.11%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	1	13	12	0.00%	0.04%	0.03%
Other race alone (NH)	8	76	68	0.02%	0.22%	0.20%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	315	312	817	0.94%	0.89%	2.34%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	12,597	13,255	16,174	37.46%	37.86%	46.40%
Total	33,627	35,012	34,860	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2020 census, there were 34,860 people, 11,674 households, and 7,739 families residing in the county.^[12] The population density was 900.79 inhabitants per square mile (347.8/km²). There were 14,000 housing units. The racial makeup of the county was 67.9% White, 4.9% African American, 1.2% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 10.8% from some other races and 14.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 46.4% of the population.^[13] 23.1% of residents were under the age of 18, 5.8% were under 5 years of age, and 13.9% were 65 and older.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 33,627 people, 11,389 households and 7,949 families residing in the county. The population density was 37 people per square mile (14 people/km²). There were 13,589 housing units at an average density of 15 units per square mile (5.8/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 80.14% White, 4.13% Black or African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 12.43% from other races, and 2.10% from two or more races. 37.46% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 11,389 households, of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.30% were married couples living together, 12.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.20% were non-families. 26.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.07.

24.20% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 30.90% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 118.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 122.50 males.

The median household income was $30,805 and the median family income was $37,262. Males had a median income of $28,971 and females $21,390. The per capita income was $15,027. About 14.50% of families and 18.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.70% of those under age 18 and 15.50% of those age 65 or over.

Media

The county is served by a daily newspaper, local radio stations KBST (AM), KBST-FM, KBTS (FM), KBYG (AM), nearby stations KBXJ (FM), KPET (AM) and KWDC (FM), and the various Midland and Odessa radio and TV stations.

Communities

Cities

• Big Spring (county seat)
• Forsan

Towns

• Coahoma
• Vealmoor

Census-designated place

• Sand Springs

Unincorporated communities

• Elbow
• Knott
• Ross City

Ghost town

• Soash

Politics

From 1912 through 1964, Howard County voters, in common with the Solid South, voted predominantly for the Democratic candidate in presidential elections. Since 1980, the trend has swung to voting chiefly for the Republican candidate.

United States presidential election results for Howard County, Texas^[14]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	7,817	81.01%	1,759	18.23%	74	0.77%
2020	8,054	78.64%	2,069	20.20%	118	1.15%
2016	6,637	76.09%	1,770	20.29%	316	3.62%
2012	6,453	74.22%	2,110	24.27%	132	1.52%
2008	7,029	72.55%	2,545	26.27%	115	1.19%
2004	7,480	73.33%	2,663	26.11%	58	0.57%
2000	6,668	69.84%	2,744	28.74%	136	1.42%
1996	5,007	50.80%	3,732	37.86%	1,118	11.34%
1992	5,129	47.17%	3,735	34.35%	2,009	18.48%
1988	6,024	57.28%	4,445	42.26%	48	0.46%
1984	7,519	64.31%	4,115	35.20%	57	0.49%
1980	6,658	58.86%	4,451	39.35%	203	1.79%
1976	4,899	40.92%	6,984	58.34%	89	0.74%
1972	7,343	72.85%	2,714	26.92%	23	0.23%
1968	3,812	36.30%	3,897	37.11%	2,792	26.59%
1964	3,272	34.93%	6,083	64.94%	12	0.13%
1960	3,403	40.83%	4,844	58.12%	88	1.06%
1956	3,051	40.30%	4,506	59.52%	14	0.18%
1952	3,412	41.60%	4,779	58.27%	11	0.13%
1948	561	11.10%	4,179	82.72%	312	6.18%
1944	334	7.71%	3,588	82.79%	412	9.51%
1940	367	7.80%	4,329	92.05%	7	0.15%
1936	230	6.90%	3,094	92.86%	8	0.24%
1932	149	5.15%	2,733	94.40%	13	0.45%
1928	812	54.86%	665	44.93%	3	0.20%
1924	186	12.85%	1,100	76.02%	161	11.13%
1920	107	11.80%	703	77.51%	97	10.69%
1916	30	3.42%	747	85.18%	100	11.40%
1912	22	3.14%	530	75.61%	149	21.26%

United States Senate election results for Howard County, Texas1^[15]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	7,388	77.67%	1,895	19.92%	229	2.41%

See also

• Texas portal

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Howard County, Texas
• Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Howard County